eversion
- June 7, 2010
- Zaratustra Productions
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Eversion," a single-player horror platformer, offers a good story, stellar gameplay, beautiful graphics, and a compelling soundtrack. As Zee Tee, rescue the Princess in a dimension-shifting journey through eight unique worlds, with retro-style platform gameplay and hand-drawn pixel art. Discover hidden lands, surprising plot twists, and earn one of three different endings for an unforgettable experience, especially when played alone at night.
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Reviews
- Eversion features a unique 'everting' mechanic that allows players to change the environment, adding depth to the platforming experience.
- The game starts off as a cheerful platformer but gradually reveals a darker, more unsettling atmosphere, creating a compelling narrative twist.
- The graphics and soundtrack effectively enhance the game's mood, transitioning from bright and colorful to eerie and haunting as players progress.
- The game is quite short, typically taking only 1-2 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- The platforming can be frustrating at times due to imprecise controls and hitboxes, leading to repeated deaths and backtracking.
- Some players may find the lack of a clear story or character development disappointing, as the game focuses more on gameplay mechanics than narrative depth.
- gameplay185 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Eversion is centered around a unique "evert" mechanic that allows players to shift between different layers of the game world, altering the environment and puzzle dynamics. While the platforming elements are straightforward and can feel simplistic, the integration of this mechanic adds depth and intrigue to the gameplay, making it engaging despite the game's short length. However, some players find the overall experience lacking in replayability and challenge, with criticisms aimed at the platforming controls and level design.
“I love the everting mechanic and how going into deeper and deeper layers affects not only the visuals, but the music too.”
“The game's evert mechanic allows the player to change the game's reality and manipulate the game's environment to solve puzzles.”
“Eversion is a short game; a typical platformer, like the classic Super Mario Bros, but with a unique mechanic in which the hero can go into deeper dimensions of the world.”
“There is no replayability in this game as there are no endgame mechanics, no map metrics to try to beat, and no engrossing story to return to.”
“The platforming is sketchy (you must be pixel perfect to jump on one empty space), the eversion mechanic is annoying, the soundtrack is annoying, and the game itself feels unfinished (you can't restart the level and the game suddenly closes after the ending scene).”
“The gameplay is frustrating to say the least and is not 'fluid' or 'tight' as some might say.”
- music141 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in Eversion is a significant aspect of the game, with a chiptune soundtrack that evolves to match the atmosphere of each layer, transitioning from cheerful to increasingly disturbing as players progress. While many players appreciate the fitting and immersive nature of the soundtrack, some find it repetitive and grating over time, particularly during challenging gameplay moments. Overall, the music effectively enhances the game's unique blend of cute visuals and horror elements, though opinions vary on its execution and impact.
“Eversion's soundtrack is fitting for the game's theme and adds to the game's overall atmosphere.”
“The music changes on the current 'layer screen'.”
“The music is wonderful and truly does a good job of portraying the current state of the game world.”
“Even the music is pretty tedious and repetitive.”
“The music is just existing well enough, but the other sound effects get grating.”
“The soundtrack is haunting and creepy.”
- graphics117 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Eversion" are characterized by a retro, pixelated style that evokes the classic 8-bit and 16-bit eras, effectively complementing the game's whimsical yet dark themes. While some players appreciate the charming and colorful visuals that transition to more sinister aesthetics, others note that the graphics are simple and may not appeal to everyone. The Steam version offers improved artwork and additional features compared to the original freeware version, making it a worthwhile purchase for fans of the genre.
“The graphics are simple yet fitting and effective, and the animation is quite smooth.”
“The graphics range from cute to horrific, and the music changes appropriately, providing complete immersion.”
“The graphics are brilliant for what they are, really capturing the feel of older titles.”
“The graphics of Eversion are simple and pixelated, reminiscent of the classic 8-bit era.”
“This is a very short game (about an hour), with very lackluster graphics.”
“For the price, this graphics package is quite underwhelming.”
- story80 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story in "Eversion" is often described as minimal and simplistic, primarily revolving around the classic "save the princess" trope featuring the character Zee Tee on a quest to rescue Princess Nehema. While some players appreciate the underlying themes and plot twists that add depth to the narrative, many reviewers note that the overall story is lacking and not a focal point of the game, with some even stating it feels almost non-existent. Despite its shortcomings, the game is recognized for its intriguing atmosphere and the potential for deeper interpretation, making it a unique experience within the puzzle-platformer genre.
“The game's story revolves around a cute flower named Zee who discovers a magical world by 'everting' or changing the game's reality.”
“Eversion is one of those great things in a small package, bringing back the glory days of classic Mario while adding some gameplay twists and a simple but entertaining plot that makes this a cute horror platformer well worth playing.”
“The story is like the typical 'hero must rescue princess', but with some really interesting twists thrown in, which will make you want to go deeper into the world until there's no coming back.”
“The setup in the game for the story is mostly non-existent.”
“The story is basically nonexistent.”
“I would only recommend Eversion if you plan to play it just once, and simply for the 'story' (that doesn't really exist).”
- atmosphere45 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in Eversion is a standout feature, transitioning from a cheerful and colorful aesthetic to a darker, more unsettling tone as players progress through the game. The soundtrack complements this shift effectively, enhancing the immersive experience. While some players appreciate the clever atmospheric twists and the blend of cute and horror elements, others feel that the gameplay mechanics detract from the overall experience, leading to mixed opinions on its execution.
“Eversion's soundtrack is fitting for the game's theme and adds to the game's overall atmosphere.”
“As you progress deeper and deeper through the hidden layers of this game, the atmosphere changes from desolation, to desperation, to pure horror!”
“The game starts with a very cheerful and pleasant aesthetic, but every eversion makes things more drastically different than how they started, initially making silly and funny changes but gradually becoming darker and more sinister in theme until the game's atmosphere is really unsettling.”
“This is why I can't recommend this game at $5, because I feel like very little effort was put into creating a creepy atmosphere.”
“The game's atmosphere never ends up being as scary as it tries to be and most of the platforming is frustrating due to the unrefined controls.”
- replayability27 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is generally considered low, with many players noting that it can be completed in under an hour and lacks substantial endgame mechanics or a compelling story to revisit. However, some elements like multiple endings, collectibles, and a time attack mode provide limited replay value for those interested in achieving 100% completion or competing for high scores. Overall, while the game offers a brief and enjoyable experience, its replayability is minimal once all content is unlocked.
“The game took me 40 minutes to finish, but there are multiple endings to get, so that extends the replay value.”
“Replayability is encouraged, and I highly recommend that you collect all the gems to unlock more content and get all the achievements.”
“However, there is a time attack mode with online highscores (with alternate versions of a couple of levels), which gives the game a bit more replay value.”
“There is no replayability in this game as there are no end game mechanics, no map metrics to try to beat, and no engrossing story to return to.”
“The only negative aspect is that I doubt there is any replay value once you've unlocked all the secrets the game has to offer.”
“Oh, and it's 40 minutes long with close to no replayability.”
- grinding13 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often requiring repetitive backtracking and multiple playthroughs to collect items or achieve endings. This repetitiveness detracts from the overall enjoyment, as many feel it shifts focus away from challenging gameplay to monotonous tasks. While some appreciate the game's potential, the grinding elements are frequently criticized for making the experience feel unsatisfying and overly simplistic.
“Cool game, but really not worth playing. Getting all the gems was just way too tedious (especially those last 3; I mean, what the heck, I had to go through the whole level seven times, then break some blocks, then go all the way back to the beginning and do it seven times again to get the gems. If I died, I'd have to do it all over again. That sucked) and the endings, while cool, are unsatisfying.”
“This means that instead of focusing on tricky parts, you often need to repeat tedious parts of levels before you can try the tricky part once.”
“It's frustrating, tedious, and has some of the worst hitboxes that I've ever seen in a platformer.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its blend of wholesome charm and unexpected depth, culminating in a heartwarming true ending that subverts typical romantic tropes. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke warmth and nostalgia, despite its horror elements, making it a unique experience that resonates on an emotional level. The journey through its layers reveals a poignant narrative that contrasts innocence with darker themes, ultimately delivering a memorable and touching conclusion.
“The true ending was actually really heartwarming, somehow.”
“If you collect all 240 gems and beat the secret 8th level, you get to see the true ending, which, for all its 'guy gets the girl' cheesiness, is actually pretty subversive and unexpected, making for one of the most romantic and heartwarming endings I've ever seen in a game like this.”
“This short 16-bit platforming-horror-puzzler seeps in its uncanniness quite well, peeling off layer after layer from its copy-paste kitsch until you reach its wholesome eldritch core.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by a whimsical and cheerful aesthetic that gradually shifts to darker themes, blending silliness with unsettling elements. Players find amusement in comical visuals, such as giant hands and quirky monsters, while also experiencing a juxtaposition of humor and creepiness, appealing to both children and adults.
“The game starts with a very cheerful and pleasant aesthetic, but every eversion makes things drastically different than how they started, initially making silly and funny changes but gradually becoming darker and more sinister in theme until the game's atmosphere is really unsettling.”
“I was too busy laughing at the giant hands that comically shoot up from death pits.”
“My 6-year-old brother loves it; he starts laughing hysterically when the flowers twist into barbed wire and the enemies start to explode into blood clouds.”
